In a significant development reported by The Wall Street Journal, former President Donald Trump allegedly reached out to billionaire Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, urging him to lift the restrictions previously imposed on the military-grade Starlink system operating in Ukraine. This intervention comes amidst Ukraine's ongoing war effort against Russia, where the Starlink internet service has become an indispensable tool for communication and coordination.
According to U.S. and Ukrainian officials cited by the Journal, the Starshield system, a variant of Starlink used by Ukraine, experienced a return to more normal operations on Thursday, a short time after Trump reportedly spoke with Musk. This timing has fueled speculation about the former president's influence on the decision-making process at SpaceX.
Video Report: Trump called Elon Musk and asked him to lift Ukraine Starlink restrictions: WSJ (2:53)
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However, Trump himself has maintained a stance of denial regarding his direct involvement. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Thursday, he stated, "I don't want to comment one way or the other" on whether he had made the call to Musk. He added, "Whether I called or whether somebody else called, doesn't make any difference. The bottom line, he put it back." This statement acknowledges the service's restoration while distancing himself from the initiation of the action.
The Wall Street Journal had previously reported that Musk, who has been publicly critical of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's strategy, had ordered a slowdown of the Starlink service. Sources cited in that report indicated that discussions between Trump and Musk regarding this decision occurred soon after the throttling became public, with one source suggesting Musk had spoken to Trump before implementing the speed cap.
Trump has consistently refuted any role in the decision, stating on Wednesday, "I don't know who did it, but I was not involved."
This controversy has garnered attention from lawmakers across the political spectrum. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) suggested on CNBC's "Squawk Box" that Musk would likely not throttle Starlink without at least tacit approval from the White House. Meanwhile, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee's investigations subcommittee, has launched an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the degradation of SpaceX's satellite technology for Ukraine, questioning the control over critical capabilities funded by the U.S. government.
Neither the White House nor representatives for Elon Musk immediately responded to CNBC's requests for comment regarding the latest report on Trump's alleged involvement.
